Spirited Away II: Return to the Spirit Realm

Chapter 17

The Dark Spirit sat upon its stony throne with its tail curled behind its gigantic, hideous form and the tips of its claws resting against one another absentmindedly. For once, those prying and terrifying red orbs of the beast had no emotion with them; not even a flicker of anger or determination or triumph. It was rather unusual for such a thing to occur to the fanatic Dark Spirit; but for it to be happening now was especially troubling, because any moment now, the Monster will return from executing the mission of murdering an innocent girl.

"Overcoming the serious - and only - potential barrier of the certainty of our success," was how the Dark Spirit put it.

Several monsters sat on the cold floor of the cave beside the stony throne. Unlike their master, their hearts were brimming with emotions - anxiety, fear, and dread being the major emotions - and their facial expressions not concealing anything. Fidgeting nervously in their places, the monsters would cast an anxious look outside; and, when their eyes met unforgivable sheets of snow, sighed downheartedly and stared at the cave's floor.

But suddenly there was a cry that sent all monsters springing into a standing position with the initial despairingly facial expression quickly abandoning them.

"Here he is!"

The Dark Spirit looked up calmly. Its lips tugged into a dry smile and the light of triumph and arrogance already burned in its eyes.

It was certain that the human was as good as dead.

Presently, the Monster stumbled inside the cave. Unlike the other monsters, this Monster looked like he wished death would take him that very second; found himself in a fiery cage of the dreadful Abyss; anything besides meeting his master. He lifted his three eyes to look at the group and swallowed uneasily.

"I trust that things went exactly according to plan?" the Dark Spirit said coolly, putting emphasis on the word "exactly."

The Monster gave the cave a desperate once-over, as if planning his emergency escape. "A-actually, master, the human girl is alive."

The Dark Spirit arched an ugly eyebrow. "How come did that come to happen?" it asked in the same cool voice, though the spark of anger was already lit in its eyes.

"There was some magical shield around the girl that did not let me come to her any closer than one foot. It did not allow me to bring any harm to her whatsoever, hence I apologetically could not execute this importance assignment, master. Upon seeing me, the girl screamed, and the Lady arrived practically immediately - with a young man clothed in royal attire and wearing a badge of the Royal General. The Lady sends you the message, 'things did not go according to plan and the wait for war until bloodshed is required.'"

The Monster looked up, his eyes more like eyes of a frightened lamb than of a beast.

"What?" stuttered the Dark Spirit, angrily. "You let an enemy discover our plans!?"

The Monster gave an inward wince of despair. The only situation worse, he was sure, was to be dead.

Or perhaps death was even better.

"My master, I offer my humblest and most sincere apologizes -"

"Don't you know what the 'magical shield' was?" the Dark Spirit snapped, interrupting the Monster in mid-sentence.

"No, master." A suspicious frown creased the Monster's brow. "Master, why -?"

"I'll tell you what the shield was," the Dark Spirit said coolly, interrupting the Monster in mid-sentence. "It was your lack of brain."

"Ma-"

"Do you not realize what you have done?!" it roared. By now, its red orbs burned with outrage, astonishment, and utter ferociousness for bloodshed. "You couldn't have done worse! There was a magic shield around the human - why didn't you just leave, you headless fool?!"